10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Sonoma County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Keeping chickens and small livestock in unincorporated Sonoma County is governed by the Zoning Code's animal-density rules, administered by Permit Sonoma. Density depends on the zoning district and parcel size. In Rural Residential zoning, one horse or cow, five goats, or fifty chickens are allowed per 20,000 square feet of parcel area.
Sonoma County Code of Ordinances Chapter 26 (Zoning Regulations), Articles 8, 9 and 18, as summarized by Permit Sonoma Agriculture/Animals/Trees FAQ
In the Rural Residential (RR) zoning district, you can have one horse or cow or 5 goats or 50 chickens for every 20,000 square feet of parcel area. If your parcel is 2 acres or less in the LIA, LEA, DA, RRD, AR, and PCRR zones, or if you have 5 acres or less in the RR zone, then you are allowed only up to 50 chickens.
In unincorporated Sonoma County, the Animal Regulation Ordinance (County Code Chapter 5, Article X, Section 5-115) prohibits dogs from running at large and requires that dogs in public be restrained by a substantial leash. Exceptions cover service, police, herding, hunting, and supervised training dogs.
Sonoma County Code Sec. 5-115 (Ord. No. 4782 Sec. 13, 1994)
No person shall cause, permit or allow any dog to run at large upon any public street or other public place, or upon any private property or premises other than those of the owner or other person in control of such dog, nor shall any person cause, permit or allow any dog to be upon any public street or other public place unless such dog is restrained by a substantial leash...
Unincorporated Sonoma County does not ban or restrict any dog breed. California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 prohibits cities and counties from declaring any breed dangerous or vicious based on breed. Local dangerous-dog rules in County Code Chapter 5 apply to individual animals by behavior, not breed.
Sonoma County Code of Ordinances Chapter 5, Article I, § 5-6 (Definitions)
'Pit Bull' means any Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, or American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog, or any mixed breed of dog which contains, as an element of its breeding, the breed of Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, or American Staffordshire Terrier as to be identifiable as partially of the breed of Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Stafford...
Beekeepers in unincorporated Sonoma County must register their apiaries with the County Agricultural Commissioner under California Food and Agricultural Code Section 29040 and following sections. Registration is due by January 1 each year, with a $10 fee; hobbyists with nine or fewer hives are fee-exempt but must still register.
Cal. Food & Agric. Code Secs. 29040, 29043, 29045
[Sec. 29040] Every person that is the owner, broker, or is in possession of an apiary that is located within the state, on the first day of January of each year, shall register the number of colonies in each apiary that is owned or possessed by the person and the location of each apiary. Every person required to register under this article, shall do so on the first day of January of each year i...
Unincorporated Sonoma County does not maintain its own exotic-animal list; California restricted-species law controls. Under Fish and Game Code and Title 14 Section 671 of the California Code of Regulations, possessing restricted wild animals (such as ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, monkeys, and most wild species) as pets is prohibited without a state permit.
Unincorporated Sonoma County does not have a stand-alone ordinance banning the feeding of wildlife generally, but California regulations control. Title 14 Section 251.3 of the California Code of Regulations prohibits knowingly feeding big game mammals such as deer, and feeding that habituates wildlife can be treated as harassment under the Fish and Game Code.
Livestock in unincorporated Sonoma County is governed by the Zoning Code's animal-density standards administered by Permit Sonoma, with allowances based on zoning district and parcel size. County Code Chapter 5 also protects livestock by addressing dogs that enter property where sheep or other livestock are kept.
Unincorporated Sonoma County does not set a specific numeric hoarding threshold; California Penal Code Section 597 governs animal cruelty and neglect. Keeping so many animals that overcrowding compromises their health and safety can be charged as cruelty. County Code Chapter 5 nuisance and sanitation provisions and pet-limit rules also apply.
In unincorporated Sonoma County, no permit is required to keep up to four dogs and/or four cats on a property. Keeping five or more typically requires a license or use permit. Five to ten animals kept non-commercially can be licensed as a pet fancier facility; five or more kept commercially is a kennel.
Sonoma County Code of Ordinances Chapter 5, Article VII (Kennels, Pet Fanciers and Pet Shops), as summarized by Permit Sonoma Agriculture/Animals/Trees FAQ
No permits required: Up to 4 dogs and/or 4 cats. Permits required: 5+ dogs/cats for commercial purposes - Use Permit needed; 5-10 dogs/cats for personal use in agricultural/rural residential zones - License from Health Department's Animal Services Division needed.
Under Sonoma County's Animal Regulation Ordinance (County Code Chapter 5, Article VI), cats four months of age or older must be vaccinated against rabies. Cat registration with Animal Services is voluntary, with reduced fees available for spayed/neutered cats and for owners age 62 or older.
4 cities in Sonoma County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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